Agricultural Economics and Management - Master's programme

Published: 11 September 2023

Information for those studying on the Master's programme (two-year) in Agricultural Economics and Management. On these pages you will find information about the programme, contact details and the documents governing the degree programme.

New applicant to the programme in 2024?

There are two admission rounds for this Master's programme. The first admission round is open to all international applicants at www.universityadmissions.se. The last date to apply is 15 January 2024. SLU strongly encourage all international students to apply in this first admission round.

Welcome Letter

Congratulations on your place at the Agricultural Economics and Management - Master´s Programme! We look forward to meeting you here in Uppsala this autumn.

The autumn semester 2023 begins with roll call and study information.

Date: Monday 28 August

Time and place: On the pages for new students, you will find information about the study start and when the roll call for your programme begins.

On these pages, you will also find all the information you need as a new
student at SLU, including information about the orientation days. The
orientation days are not mandatory but we recommend that you attend
them. They take place at the end of August, before the semester starts, and
provide essential and useful information about your stay in Sweden and
your studies at SLU.

Students with a major in Management will start their studies with the course Marketing, Responsibility and Ethics (FÖ0445)

Students with a major in Economics will start their studies with the courses Microeconomic theory (NA0135) and Analytical methods (NA0195). Please note that both these courses are held at Uppsala University. On the course pages you will find schedules for your classes and course messages. Timetables and reading lists for the courses will be published at least four weeks ahead of time.

Once again, we are very happy to welcome you to our master programme and look forward to meeting you on August 28th!

 

Lovisa Nilsson

Director of studies for Agricultural Economics and Management - Master´s Programme at SLU

Lovisa.Nilsson@slu.se

 

Specialisations

Depending on which courses you choose, you can do a degree in either Business Administration or Economics. The particular courses you should choose for each specialisation are shown in Appendix 2 to the programme syllabus.

Independent project

In order to be awarded the degree of Master of Science, you must carry out an independent project/degree project at master level (A2E) worth at least 30 credits. All independent projects have a course syllabus and the course schedule indicates when these courses are offered. Depending on the specialised study you have selected for your degree, you can do your project in Business Administration or Economics.

How do I find a subject and a supervisor? Find out more on the general pages about independent projects

What specific requirements are there for the independent project on my programme? These are indicated in Appendix 3 of the programme syllabus.

General guidelines for independent projects at SLU 

Information about independent projects in the Department of Economics

Work plan A work plan must be drawn up for all independent projects. You will do this together with your supervisor.

Grading criteria Available on the course web page for each course

Admission to latter part

Here you will find information about admission to latter parts of SLU programmes and how you apply.

In autumn semester 2023 the available places on the programme are:

  • Year 2 admitted 2022: 5 places

Selection

If there are more qualified applicants than available places when the application period has ended, than the applicants are ranked according to how many credits they can transfer to the degree. When the applicants have equal credentials, lottery is applied.

Syllabus

Agricultural Economics and Management - Master's Programme

Programcode:
NM031

Requirements

Admission to the Agricultural Economics and Management – Master’s programme requires a first-cycle qualification comprising 180 credits and including:

  • studies comprising 90 credits within business administration and 15 credits microeconomics for specialisation business administration or

  • studies comprising 90 credits within economics for specialisation economics

The qualification must also include at least 5 credits of mathematics and 5 credits of statistics; or 15 credits of statistics.

Two specialisations are available on this programme, and the constituent courses have different specific entry requirements. The specialization business administration requires a specialization in that subject at first-cycle level. The specialisation economics requires a specialization in that subject at first-cycle level.

Applicants with the equivalent qualifications obtained by means of a degree from another country, or with the equivalent knowledge obtained in some other way, may also be regarded as fulfilling the specific entry requirements.

This programme is taught in English. The applicant must further have a level of English equivalent to upper secondary school English, called English 6. An applicant with a first-cycle qualification from SLU comprising 180 credits automatically fulfils this requirement. Special rules apply for applicants with qualifications from one of the Nordic countries and some English-speaking countries.

Specific requirements apply for admission to the individual courses included in the programme.

Goals

General objectives

The general objectives for first- and second-cycle courses and programmes are specified in the Swedish Higher Education Act (Chapter 1, Sections 8–9).

Objectives for a Degree

In accordance with the annex to the Ordinance for the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, for a degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall:

Knowledge and understanding

  • demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and

  • demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

  • demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information

  • demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work

  • demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to clearly report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and

  • demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

  • demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work

  • demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and

  • demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Exam

Degree awarded on completion of the programme

Upon completion of the programme, the degree of Master of Science is awarded. Other general qualifications may be awarded, provided that the requirements for them are fulfilled. More information can be found in SLU´s degree regulations.

Students who fulfil the qualification requirements for a degree will be issued a degree certificate upon request. The degree certificate will specify the qualification as Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics (120 credits) with a Major in Business Administration or with a Major in Economics.

Degree requirements

A degree of Master of Science in business and economics (120 credits) with a major in business administration is awarded to students who fulfil the course requirements (courses with a Pass grade) of 120 credits, of which at least 90 credits at second-cycle level, according to the following:

  • at least 30 credits of courses with specialised study in the main field business administration (A1N; A1F),
  • at least 30 credits from an independent project (degree project) in the main field business administration (A2E).

In addition, the student must hold a degree of Bachelor or professional qualification of at least 180 credits or an equivalent qualification.

A degree of Master of Science in business and economics (120 credits) with a major in economics is awarded to students who fulfil the course requirements (courses with a Pass grade) of 120 credits, of which at least 90 credits at second-cycle level, according to the following:

  • at least 30 credits of courses with specialised study in the main field economics (A1N; A1F),
  • at least 30 credits from an independent project (degree project) in the main field economics (A2E).

In addition, the student must hold a degree of Bachelor or professional qualification of at least 180 credits or an equivalent qualification.

Content and Structure

Programme description

Students on the Master’s programme Agricultural Economics and Management are studying to become experts in the applied field of agricultural economics or management. They do so by accumulating theoretical and methodological tools in order to apply them on contemporary problems within the agricultural sector. The programme prepares the students for further studies, but also for positions within the agricultural sector.

Courses in the programme

Main fields of study FÖ=Business administration, NA=Economics, LB=Agricultural science, MX=Environmental science

Course Main field of study/specialisation

Specialisation: Business administration

Year 1
Marketing, Responsibility and Ethics 15 cr FÖ A1N
Production Economics 15 cr FÖ/NA A1N
Research Methods for Business Studies 7,5 cr FÖ A1N
Agricultural Cooperatives 7,5 cr FÖ A1N
Value Chains and Networks in the Bio-economy 15 cr FÖ A1N

Year 2
Quantitative Finance 15 cr FÖ/NA A1N
Leadership and Sustainability 15 cr FÖ A1N
Agricultural Economics, Policy and Trade 7,5 cr NA G1F
Experimental Methods for Economics and Business Studies 7,5 cr NA/FÖ A1N
Independent Project in Business Administration 30 cr FÖ A2E

Specialisation: Economics

Year 1
Microeconomic Theory 7,5 cr NA A1N 
Analytical Methods 7,5 cr NA A1N
Production Economics 15 cr FÖ/NA A1N
Experimental Methods for Economics and Business Studies 7,5 cr NA/FÖ A1N
Econometric Theory 7,5 cr NA A1N
Applied Econometrics 7,5 cr NA A1N
Policy Evaluation 7,5 cr NA A1N
Analysis of productivity and efficiency of food system firms, 7,5 cr NA A1N
Topics in Econometrics 7,5 cr NA A1N

Year 2
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects 7,5 cr NA/MX A1N
Topics in agricultural economics for sustainable development 7,5 cr NA A1F
Quantitative Finance 15 cr FÖ/NA A1N
Management of Biological Resources 7,5 cr NA/MX A1N
Macroeconomic Theory 7,5 cr NA A1N 
Economic Growth and Sustainable Development 7,5 cr NA A1F
Independent Project in Economics 30 cr NA A2E

Additional courses

20th Century Agricultural Economy and Politics 7,5 cr LB A1N 
Research Methods – Master Level distance course 7,5 cr FÖ A1N

The courses offered may change during the course of the programme. Decisions on the courses offered are taken well in advance of the next academic year.

For each course, there is a course syllabus providing more detailed course information. Information on when courses are offered is available on the SLU student web.

Other Info

General regulations for first- and second-cycle courses and programmes

For more information on semester dates, examination and credit transfer, see the Regulations for education at Bachelor´s and Master´s level available on the SLU student web.

Possibilities for further studies

Students who complete the programme and are awarded a degree of Master have the option to continue their studies at doctoral level.

Course schedule academic year 23/24

Year 1

Analytical Methods

2023-08-28 - 2023-10-30
7.5 hp
Beskrivning av grafiken nedan

Microeconomic Theory

2023-08-28 - 2023-10-30
7.5 hp
Beskrivning av grafiken nedan

Production economics

2023-10-31 - 2024-01-14
15.0 hp
Beskrivning av grafiken nedan

Econometric Theory

2024-01-15 - 2024-02-14
7.5 hp
Beskrivning av grafiken nedan

Applied Econometrics

2024-02-15 - 2024-03-19
7.5 hp
Beskrivning av grafiken nedan

Policy Evaluation

2024-03-20 - 2024-04-25
7.5 hp
Beskrivning av grafiken nedan

Topics in Econometrics

2024-04-26 - 2024-06-02
7.5 hp
Beskrivning av grafiken nedan

Year 2

Quantitative finance

2023-08-28 - 2023-10-30
15.0 hp
Beskrivning av grafiken nedan

Macroeconomic Theory

2023-10-31 - 2024-01-14
7.5 hp
Beskrivning av grafiken nedan

Course schedule academic year 23/24 PDF


Contact

Programme Study Director

Lovisa Nilsson, researcher

Department of Economics

018-67 17 12

lovisa.nilsson@slu.se